Harborough-area duo saddle up for bike ride in memory of friend’s father

Glen Thurgood and Edward Every warm up on a local bike ride

Published:07:15Saturday 09 May 2015

Glen Thurgood and Edward Every warm up on a local bike ride

Edward Every and Glen Thurgood are travelling 1,500kms along with 38 other riders to raise awareness and funds for the Institute of Liver Studies as part of the Ricoh Imagine Change Cycling Challenge.

They have been training hard for almost two years and will be setting off from Buckingham Palace on the May 16 accompanied by local rugby legend Neil Back as well as two former Ironmen.

Edward, who lives in Ashley, said: “I am doing this in memory of my friend James’s father who died of bile duct cancer and together with the other cyclists we want to help the charity, which is pioneering research and treatment into this rare and aggressive and hard to diagnose illness.

“Sadly, liver cancer can affect anyone, young or old.”

The team hope raise £100,000 towards making the Institute a European Centre of Excellence for Liver disease at King’s College Hospital in London.

Their feat is equivalent to going 11 times from Harborough to London whilst making climbs totalling 15,000 metres - close to twice the height of Mt Everest - in 11 consecutive days.

Edward added: “After more than 20 years as something of an armchair sports enthusiast, I have spent the last two years making a huge effort to get fit.

“If you are able to support my efforts it will greatly encourage me as the kilometres painfully pass by, particularly when we have to face the Pyrenees on the last few days. More importantly it’s helping the 50,000 referrals suffering from Liver Disease at King’s College London that come in each year.

“Donations will help people from all over the country and the world suffer less and the money will continue to help them for years to come.”

Glen, who lives in Harborough and is the owner of The Training Shed gym, has developed a detailed cycling training schedule that has helped all the riders prepare for such a mammoth challenge.

He said: “I am so proud to be involved in the Ricoh Imagine Change Challenge.

“Let’s hope the other riders will be friendly to me on the ride after the punishing training programme I’ve set them.

Donate through www.justgiving.com/Edward-Every or www.justgiving.com/Glen-Thurgood